I love love love LOVE these trousers.

I have total blogger's block in terms of an amusing lead-in to talking about them or some anecdote that got me to here, or some small epiphany I've had recently, so I'm going to get right to the point and talk Terra Pants - well because the sewing is what you come here for right?

These are the Terra Pants by Pattern Fantastique made in a beautiful almost brushed (albeit wrinkly) heavy weight twill that came from either Mood Fabrics or Blackbird Fabrics. I have two very similar fabrics and I can't remember which I got from where, but given the wonderful quality of this, I'm going with Blackbird.

I've seen a few sewing legends make these and was instantly smitten with the pleats and the leg shape and the cuff and also the fact that you can cut your regular size and have them low slung sitting on your hips or down size and have them sit on your waist. My 90s self loves the low slung idea - but that was when I had a teen stomach and was all about showing it off with low slung pants and a cropped top. Two babies and twenty years later I'm very much about a high waist thanks! And the way these sit on the waist means the back comes up super high and shows off the curve at the bottom of the spine, which to my mind is just as sexy as belly baring! Kinda.

Given my broad hips and ample bottom, I was a little concerned that these would just amplify my pear shape and be very unkind to me. But in fact the opposite is true. The curves and size are so exaggerated that they sit away from the body and make your waist and ankles / calves look tiny by comparison and to me seem very flattering.

The other awesome thing about this, is that because they are very high in the rise, intentionally to allow for a low crotch, I didn't make any pattern adjustments other than to add 3 inches to the leg length. I can't tell you how much this adds to the enjoyment of making them, when I'm not tweaking and fiddling with crotch fit. Total winner. I think next time, I might make the waist slightly smaller, but other than that I wouldn't change a thing.

I'm echoing everyone else who has made these when I rave about how beautifully they are drafted. The former marketing exec/copywriter in me got a bit perturbed by the typos in the instructions and in some places they aren't entirely clear, but the pattern itself is utterly awesome. A clever fly insertion, really interesting waistband and the pocket facing grown onto the pants front is great.

I love welt pockets and they are surprisingly straight forward to sew, especially when you have brilliant guidance as with these. Welt pockets = uber professional-looking homemade clothing IMO. Please note the awesome scraps I chose to line my pockets with.

I'd really like to make these again in linen for the summer. I love Sophie's giant check version and wonder if I could pull something similar off without looking like a children's party entertainer?

If you were on the fence about making these, jump firmly down onto the side of making them and crack a pair out, you won't regret it.

See you soon x

ps: Terra Pants worn with my favourite Ogden Cami by True Bias. Made as a toile, but worn so much I haven't actually got around to making the one I intended to make. Another awesome pattern.

Terra Pantastic!